Signs of Summer

by Amy on June 17, 2011

After a long Black Hills South Dakota winter, the thought of spring seems like a dream and summer an illusion. Too many times we’ve been fooled by wonderful spring weather only to get clobbered by a late spring snowstorm to remind us that Mother Nature’s in charge of when it’s spring and summer. That’s why I don’t expect summer to arrive until I start seeing the signs. Here are some of the signs that tell me when summer’s arrived.

I see Blue birds flitting around in the yard outside my kitchen window

The laundry on the line dries fast and snaps in the warm wind

Dandelions start popping up

The porch swing gets used

Sweatshirts and jackets get ditched around the yard

It’s time to move cows to summer range

I hear the soothing sound of crickets chirping

Sunshine! And lots of it

It’s rhubarb season again

I feel my first sunburn of the season

A tuckered out dog

Signs of my kids sleeping the whole summer outside

Mr. Toad comes back to my flower garden

Slick and shiny coats on horses and cows

Colors. Lots and lots of bright, cheery colors.

Evening campfires in the yard

Lillacs are about to bloom

The rain guage is up

I smell scents of summer: humidity and earth and growth in the air

Grass is dewey

I find the first pasque in bloom; South Dakota’s state flower

My favorite wild flowers are in full bloom

We get to eat mealtimes on the porch

I smell the fresh scent of pine sap on a warm day

Pollen’s in the air

Afternoon thunder boomers develop

Days are long

The sound of frogs are heard croaking loudly at the dam

Tall, green grass

Millers flutter around the lights

Mosquito bites show up on skin

Skies are finally blue again

Savor the sights. The sounds. And the smells of your summer. Soak up summer at its fullest with all its wonderful colors and refreshing aromas because winter’s long.